Further to ISU Communication No. 1742, item 7, ISU Communication 1767, item 7 and internal consultations among all competent ISU bodies, it was decided to revise the Minimum Total Technical Scores for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2013 as follows:

Exactly what I thought would happen. I was afraid they will not change dance since there is already a potential field of 28 teams, more than 25 which was the limit of entries for the Short dance the last 2 years.

Ok with these numbers the ladies with min scores by country would be (I'll add the competitions later if wanted). In the case of countries with more skaters than spots available im highlighting who is the world team member.

Yeah, because it would be much better if they didn't lower the scores and excluded a number of skaters.

Once the minimum scores were announced, ISU did say that they were subject to change depending on how many skaters managed to reach them.

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What would be best would be to set the minimums to something reasonable and defensible and then not change them. At least they did say they might change them so they aren't at least changing the rules in the middle of the season like they have done in the past. Basically they are saying "we're setting these numbers but we have no idea if they are a good idea or not so reserve the right to change our minds later if it turns out these numbers are shite" which makes them look stupid and our sport look stupid.

Thanks a million, SamuraiK. So of course the EVILLE ISU lowered the minimums as little as possible, to make sure we didn't by any chance end up with more than 30 skaters in the SP.

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Almost seems like instead of a minimum score Worlds is should just be opened to the top 30 skaters by combined score over the period of time to gain a qualifying score. It would just become a Japan vs Russia vs USA and a few others contest, but it would seem less impulsive. Or maybe they keep the numbers per country rules the same, but still pick down the list (which would mean federations give up control of who they send- but really, for most federations, is there much of a choice?)

Basically they are saying "we're setting these numbers but we have no idea if they are a good idea or not so reserve the right to change our minds later if it turns out these numbers are shite" which makes them look stupid and our sport look stupid.

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I think it would have been far worse if they didn't lower these minimums and kept the smaller fields we had based on the initial numbers. Yes, some skaters will still miss out on Worlds and this is still prohibitive for developing skating countries, but I still feel lowering the min scores was the right move in these circumstances. Maybe we could just go back to skaters/federation who miss making the cut having to pay for their room&board while at Worlds?

Ignatenko (BLR), Gorodozha (UKR), Lucine (MON), and Pfeifer (AUT) would all definitely make the qualification for Worlds, too, which means men and ladies are now at 30+ entries (and I am sure other men have also now qualified, but it gets to be a headache looking through all the numbers).

Add Ronald Lam (HKG), Christopher Caluza and Michael Christian Martinez (both PHI) to the above list. Caluza won Nationals by 35 points so I'd guess he goes to Worlds, but maybe they will wait until after 4CC?

Abzal Rakimgaliev (KAZ) now qualifies and will be able to join teammate Denis Ten at Worlds.

AFAIK, Paul Parkinson (ITA) hasn't gotten a 60 technically in the LP yet so Italy would, to this point, still only be able to use one of their two spots (Bacchini).

Also, Balde (CAN) now is qualified and I guess it will come down to whoever places higher between Elladj and Andrei Rogozine at 4CC this week for the final Canadian spot.

Either the minimums truly mean something or they do not. I can see saying: we don't want any skaters at our World Championships who don't meet a certain skill level. But, if you say that, stick to it.

The problem is that minimum score way of doing things it kind of arbitrary. It's different than saying "no Ladies skaters without at least a Double Axel" which is a minimum you can defend.

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Well, once you get into specific jump requirements, you end up getting into debates about callers and leniency of specific panels. I'm not sure what the best solution would be -other than going back to much lower mins and having skaters who miss out on the cut pay for their own room & board at ISU championships.

I agree lowering the minimums isn't ideal, but I would rather have that happen (especially when the ISU mentioned that could take place), instead of having only 20 entries in one event. I might have misunderstood your original post, but it sounded like you were in favor of maintaining the original mins, arbitrary as they were, instead of having more skaters compete in London.

What would be best would be to set the minimums to something reasonable and defensible and then not change them. At least they did say they might change them so they aren't at least changing the rules in the middle of the season like they have done in the past. Basically they are saying "we're setting these numbers but we have no idea if they are a good idea or not so reserve the right to change our minds later if it turns out these numbers are shite" which makes them look stupid and our sport look stupid.

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It doesn't make them stupid. You can't expect ISU (or anybody else) to predict the future. And the idea is to reduce the fields down to a manageable size because of financial reasons. If the fields are too big (or too small in this case) scores will have to be adjusted.

Almost seems like instead of a minimum score Worlds is should just be opened to the top 30 skaters by combined score over the period of time to gain a qualifying score. It would just become a Japan vs Russia vs USA and a few others contest, but it would seem less impulsive. Or maybe they keep the numbers per country rules the same, but still pick down the list (which would mean federations give up control of who they send- but really, for most federations, is there much of a choice?)

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That (having top 30 skaters regardless of country they represent) would pretty instantly kill figure skating in the vast majority of countries in the world.

Instead of setting a minimum score, they should just have X spots available at Euros/4CC/Worlds and invite X highest scored skaters keeping the number per country rule.

I would open the fields up a little, though. Allow Top 36 singles to compete in the SP (6 warm-up groups) as well as 24 Pairs (6 warm-up groups) and 30 Ice Dance teams (again 6 warm-up groups). But of course that would be too expensive for the organisers so it won't happen. :/

Instead of setting a minimum score, they should just have X spots available at Euros/4CC/Worlds and invite X highest scored skaters keeping the number per country rule.

I would open the fields up a little, though. Allow Top 36 singles to compete in the SP (6 warm-up groups) as well as 24 Pairs (6 warm-up groups) and 30 Ice Dance teams (again 6 warm-up groups). But of course that would be too expensive for the organisers so it won't happen. :/

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I came up with an idea along those lines a few months ago. I thought that all Grand Prix Final qualifiers should automatically get a Worlds spot, regardless of country (ie the four Japanese men this year). Then, maybe the top 12 or so at Europeans or 4CC each (in singles, for this instance). That's 30 spots. Then if you wanted to stick to 36 entries, maybe allow the 6 next countries in line in seasons best score without an entry to allow their skater to compete.

Either the minimums truly mean something or they do not. I can see saying: we don't want any skaters at our World Championships who don't meet a certain skill level. But, if you say that, stick to it.

The problem is that minimum score way of doing things it kind of arbitrary. It's different than saying "no Ladies skaters without at least a Double Axel" which is a minimum you can defend.

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The ISU never said the high minimums were to ensure a certain technical level of skating: they said they set them to eliminate the preliminary round and to limit the number of skaters in the SP. They also said they'd adjust the scores if needed to get the proper field size.

It was clear from how high the initial scores were that they were aiming high and would adjust lower if need be. There were several ways to do it: by allowing skaters to combine their scores to see if they reached the total of the two individual scores, or to tweak both scores. Every skater entering internationals where s/he had the privilege and support to do so knew s/he might have reached an adjusted score(s) without the competition, and every skater for whom it was practical to attend an international, but chose not to because they guessed the score would not be lowered (or lowered enough), took a gamble. Lowering the scores was a happy bonus for some skaters, a cause for stress, a nail-biter, or any of the above, but they all knew the deal going into the season.

In accordance with Rule 378, ISU Members must enter Competitors and their substitutes on the official entry forms. Entries must reach the Chair of the ISU Sports Directorate, the ISU Secretariat and the Organizing Committee not later than February 17, 2013 &#8211; 20:00 hrs, local time London, ON (see Rule 378, paragraph 1). Entries must be made by the Member concerned. Receipt of the entries will be confirmed in writing.